Why Should a ‘Christian Nation’ Accept Refugees from Syria?

57% of Republican supporters, when polled, said they support establishing Christianity as the national religion.

Let me preface this post with this. I was born in a Christian home, my Dad is an ordained pastor, and grew up reading the Bible. I still consider myself a Christian today, and still hold many of the core values Christianity teaches.

So, if the majority of Republicans think the nation should support Christian values, what does the Bible say about refugees and how they should treat them?

My friend Luke Leverett did the research:

Exodus 12:49 and Leviticus 24:22 — “There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.”

Exodus 22:21 — Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”

Leviticus 19:9–10 and 23:22 — Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not strip your vineyards bare…leave them for the poor and the alien.”

Leviticus 19:33–34 and 24:22 — “When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Leviticus 24:23 — Moses receives God’s law: “With me you are but aliens and tenants.”

Numbers 9:14 and 15:15–16 — “…you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native.”

Numbers 35 and Joshua 20 — The Lord instructs Moses to give cities of refuge to the Levites so that when the Israelites must flee into Canaan they may have cities of refuge given to them.

Deuteronomy 1:16 — “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien.”

Deuteronomy 10:18–19 — “For the Lord your God…loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 14:28–29 and 26:12–13 — Tithing was begun, in part, for resident aliens.

Deuteronomy 24:14 — “You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land…”

Deuteronomy 24:17–18 — “You shall not deprive a resident alien…of justice.”

Deuteronomy 24:19–22 — Leave sheaf, olives, grapes for the alien.

Deuteronomy 26:5 — A wandering Aramean was my ancestor…

Deuteronomy 27:19 — “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien…of justice.”

I Chronicles 29:14–15 — David praises God: “We are aliens and transients before you…”

II Chronicles 2:17–18 — Solomon took a census of all the aliens and assigned them work.

Psalm 105 — Remembering their sojourn: “When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,…”

Psalm 137:1–6 — “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept…How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”

Psalm 146:9 — “The Lord watches over the strangers…”

Ecclesiastes 4:1 — “Look, the tears of the oppressed — with no one to comfort them.”

Isaiah 16:4 — Be a refuge to the outcasts of Moab.

Jeremiah 7:5–7 — “If you do not oppress the alien…then I will dwell with you in this place…”

Jeremiah 22:3–5 — Do no wrong or violence to the alien.

Ezekiel 47:21–22 — The aliens shall be to you as citizens, and shall also be allotted an inheritance.

Zechariah 7:8–10 — Do no oppress the alien.

Malachi 3:5 — The messenger will bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien.

Matthew 5:10–11 –“Blessed are those who are persecuted.”

Matthew 25:31–46 — “…I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

Luke 3:11 — “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none…”

Luke 4:16–21 — “…Bring good news to the poor…release to the captives…sight to the blind…let the oppressed go free.”

Romans 12:13 — “Mark of the true Christian: “…Extend hospitality to strangers…’

II Corinthians 8:13–15 — “It is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need…”

Ephesians 2:11–22 — “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.”

Hebrews 11 — “By faith Abraham…set out for a place…not knowing where he was going.”

Hebrews 13:1–2 — “…show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels…”

James 2:14–17 — “What good is it…if you say you have faith but do not have works?”

I John 3:18 — “…Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”

I John 4:7–21 — “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God…” We love because God first loved us.”

“Let me know when you find the Bible verses that say we should close our borders to Muslims, will you? Or that passage that says we should generalize our prejudice for millions of innocent people based on the actions of a tiny minority, make sure you quote that one”, says Leverett.

It seems to me that if Republicans truly believe the United States should be a Christian nation, they should start reading the verses about immigration and applying that to their politics.